Do any other auto transmissions bolt up to a 3.0 V6 besides the A4LD?

[Wicked_Sludge]

there was an upgrade to the A4LD in '93.5. if you can find a trans from a late '93 or '94 truck, it may be a little better than your original (or maybe not, if your truck is already a late model).

either way it will still suck.

why dont you want to modify the truck? isnt that the whole point? a 5 speed swap really isnt that much work (in fact, the transmission install itself would be nearly identical to an auto swap)...the clutch pedal install is the hard part but you can keep driving the truck with the auto while you get that sorted out.

more power, better economy, and many times the reliability of an auto sure sounds tempting to me....

 

[koda6966]

Because the truck is my only means of transportation, so I would want the swap done fast. My skills are also limited.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

thats why i said you can swap the clutch pedal in while the automatic is still in the truck (the truck can be driven while in the midst of the pedal install). after the pedal is installed, it wont take you any longer to install a 5 speed than it would to install another automatic.

its basically a bolt in swap...no special tools or fabrication required. you seem confident in swapping your auto, im sure you can swap in a manual. you gotta learn somehow, right?

plus youve got the guys here at TRS to help you should you run into any hangups...

 

[koda6966]

thats why i said you can swap the clutch pedal in while the automatic is still in the truck (the truck can be driven while in the midst of the pedal install). after the pedal is installed, it wont take you any longer to install a 5 speed than it would to install another automatic.
its basically a bolt in swap...no special tools or fabrication required. you seem confident in swapping your auto, im sure you can swap in a manual. you gotta learn somehow, right?
plus youve got the guys here at TRS to help you should you run into any hangups...

...I would also have to learn to drive stick.
@myself.

I need to get around to doing that anyway.. I may or may not decide to buy a Civic for commuting to college next year. It would cut my 80 dollar fuel costs down to about 50. And I would HAVE to have a 5speed. Little four cylinder cars are just stupid with an auto.

But I never thought of doing it that way. Thanks for the idea.

I think I would only see about 1 mile in MPG difference though. At least that's what fueleconomy.gov says.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

its just an idea. i just hate to see people limit themselves when the potential is there.

mileage varies a lot. EPA estimates are just that: estimates. ive heard of 3.0 5 speed guys getting into the high 20's for fuel economy...you wont do that with an auto.

even my 4x4 with bad gearing will hit 24 MPG...whats your 2wd auto getting?

 

[koda6966]

even my 4x4 with bad gearing will hit 24 MPG...whats your 2wd auto getting?

About 18 on a good day.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

 

[koda6966]

You have a point.

Okay, so I'll add an M50D to the list of things I need to get..

I like the whole slowly working on it idea while keeping it mobile. Basically I should be able to just find a manual ranger and take parts from it, then store the ones that I will put in when the time comes.

Too bad it's winter, or I'd get started right away. The local junkyard lets you take free things as long as they're small if you buy something big, and every time I go there with my dad he spends at least 100 on things he needs. Last time, I picked up some BII emblems (for fun) and a latch for my super cab window for free.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

you can get the clutch pedal assembly, master cylinder + hydraulic line, trans. hump plate, shift boot trim w/trim, and the carpet cut to fit all without rendering the truck undriveable (it'll be noisy driving around with a hole in the floor and no shifter to plug it!).

just do lots of research before you start the swap. you might PM a few of the members that have done the swap to see what kind of little details need to be sorted out.

 

[xsouthernrebel]

i think it took me all of about 3 hours to do the manual swap after i wrestled the a4ld out of the y pipe . . . lol i didnt wanna break manifold bolts off. . . . its very simple . . . .the hole in the firewall is already there and the brake/clutch pedal assembly slides rite out after the lock ring comes off . . . then take the shifter off of the tranny an bolt it up then bolt the shifter back in . . . then your ready to ride. . . .or grind and burn clutches in your case lol

 

[koda6966]

or grind and burn clutches in your case lol

Oh, I would definitely have my brother teach me to drive stick. That way I can ruin his Nissan instead of my Ford.



Anyway, if some of you haven't noticed I'm planning on buying a little Honda sometime this spring. If I do manage to keep the Ranger around, I'll have plenty of time to work on the M50D swap. This thread is no longer needed.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

try, try, TRY to keep your ranger.

i drive an eco-beater (my escort) for a daily driver, but i would have been up sheet creek several times if i had gotten rid of the ranger. you just never know when you will need to tow or haul something that is out of the range of a little FWD. plus its nice to have a reliable truck waiting for me when (not if) my escorts break down.

 

[koda6966]

try, try, TRY to keep your ranger.
i drive an eco-beater (my escort) for a daily driver, but i would have been up sheet creek several times if i had gotten rid of the ranger. you just never know when you will need to tow or haul something that is out of the range of a little FWD. plus its nice to have a reliable truck waiting for me when (not if) my escorts break down.

For the hauling and whatnot I always have the big Dodge 1500 4x4, although it would be nice to have the Ranger for winter.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

ahh, didnt realize you had other rigs.

a FWD car will do better in the winter than your 2wd truck IMO

 

[koda6966]

ahh, didnt realize you had other rigs.
a FWD car will do better in the winter than your 2wd truck IMO

Well it's not exactly mine, but I can use it whenever I need to for the cost of gas. It belongs to my father.

And I just got thinking about it, rear wheel drive sucks ass in snow we used to blast through whole snow drifts and snow banks with the fwd Escort we had. Just need to keep up your speed.